A new era began for Dundee education on Thursday when three primary schools and the first phase of the Grove Academy opened for pupils under Dundee City Council's £90m PPP programme.
Pipers were at Craigowl, Downfield and St Andrew's primaries and Grove Academy to mark the occasion as pupils started lessons following their summer holiday.
Along with Claypotts Castle Primary which opened this May, these are the first new school building openings in the city since 1974.
Dundee City Council administration leader Cllr Kevin Keenan said: "These schools show how the council is investing for the future of this city. We are committed to the aim of continually improving education so that more and more pupils can succeed at school.
"This is a very special day for pupils, their families, all the teachers and staff at these schools and also for the city of Dundee.
"We are seeing how the largest building programme in education in decades is bearing fruit. It is providing quality facilities that will benefit both learning and teaching for everyone concerned.
"I am sure that pupils and teachers will be very impressed by these facilities and I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in preparing these schools to open."
City council education convener Cllr Laurie Bidwell said: "We are all very excited about the opportunities that the city council is providing for pupils through this major investment.
"The completion of these schools in the first part of the council's PPP programme is a significant milestone toward the completion of the project.
"This is a vital component in our ongoing efforts to keep improving education in the city. I am delighted that these schools are opening and pupils and teachers are getting down to work in their new surroundings."
The other schools opening next year under the second phase of the city council's PPP programme are St Paul's Academy, the completion of the Grove Academy replacement and Fintry & Rowantree primaries.
(GK/JM)
Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Latest Construction News
26/11/2024
Scottish Water has unveiled its largest-ever procurement initiative, aiming to modernise the nation's water and wastewater infrastructure while safeguarding the environment. The program, named Delivery Vehicle 4, is valued between £5 billion and £9 billion and is set to run from 2027 to 2033, with ...
26/11/2024
The City of Edinburgh Council has granted planning permission, subject to conditions, for the refurbishment of Calton Square, an office building currently occupied by Baillie Gifford until the end of December 2025. Promoted by Ardstone Capital on behalf of Manova Partners, the project aims to ...
26/11/2024
First Minister John Swinney, MSP for Perthshire North, praised the progress being made on the construction of the new Perth High School during a visit on Friday, 22 November. He was joined by Jim Fairlie, MSP for Perthshire South and Kinross-shire, alongside senior Perth and Kinross Councillors, ...
26/11/2024
A state-of-the-art playpark has officially opened at King George V Park in Bearsden, following the completion of a £100,000 refurbishment. Funded by a combination of East Dunbartonshire Council (EDC) Capital Funding and the Scottish Government’s Renewing Scotland’s Play Parks initiative, the ...
26/11/2024
Fife Council has launched a public consultation, inviting residents, businesses, and organizations to contribute ideas and propose sites for inclusion in the next Local Development Plan, known as Fife's Place Plan. The council is calling on community councils, landowners, and developers to share ...
26/11/2024
The Chief Executive of East Lothian Council has announced she is to retire in February 2025. Monica Patterson who has been Chief Executive for almost five years, has spent most of her professional career working in local government. Prior to joining East Lothian Council in 2010, she was Head of ...
25/11/2024
West of Scotland Housing Association (WSHA) and Connect Modular have jointly submitted a planning application to Glasgow City Council for the development of 33 affordable homes in Cowlairs. This project aligns with the wider Cowlairs Park regeneration scheme and the city's ambitious housing ...
25/11/2024
Arc-Tech (Scotland) has successfully completed a £6m Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) services package for the Lost Shore Surf Resort in Edinburgh. The state-of-the-art resort, which opened its doors earlier this month, features a range of amenities, including a wave pool, luxury lodges, and ...
25/11/2024
Scottish Water has successfully completed the construction of a groundbreaking hydro energy generation scheme at Whiteadder Reservoir in East Lothian. This innovative project, believed to be the first of its kind in Europe, will harness the power of water to offset a significant portion of the ...
25/11/2024
Work is set to commence on a £6.5 million project to upgrade the Double Dykes Gypsy/Traveller site near Perth. The initiative aims to replace outdated chalets with modern, energy-efficient accommodation and implement significant site improvements. Perth & Kinross Council secured £3.9 million from ...